These Pictures Of Dogs At A Grooming Competition Are Insane

The elaborate dog fashion found at grooming competitions can be
totally ridiculous. Just look at the poor pet on the right whose
fur was cut and dyed to display the faces of multiple Disney
characters.

There is one other grooming category: creative. This is where
groomers use hair dye and special techniques to make the dogs
look like fictional characters or other animals, like this
cheetah-dog.Paul Nathan

When dogs are presented in the creative competition, the groomers
typically dress in a costume that matches their
dog. Paul Nathan

To decide the winners, judges look for skill and creativity,
Nathan told Business Insider.Paul Nathan

Celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky explains his approach in
the introduction to Groomed: “My task as a groomer is to capture
and enhance that particular animal’s singularity with a
distinguished and fashionably tasteful grooming style that brings
out the best attributes [of the dog].”Paul Nathan

Each dog breed has its own grooming history. Poodles, for
example, were typically groomed with their torso hair clipped
short and rings of fur on their legs to facilitate swimming while
out on a hunt.Paul Nathan

Depending on the complexity of the style, it can take anywhere
from 3 hours to 9 hours to groom the dog. The dogs are given
plenty of breaks.Paul Nathan

The dogs in the competition are experienced at being groomed for
this long, says Nathan, so they rarely get
uncomfortable.Paul Nathan

Not every dog is suited to the creative competition, however. It
typically takes a lot of patience to be able to tolerate the long
grooming sessions.Paul Nathan

The hair dyeing is done over several days. The dye is
nontoxic and not permanent. It can last anywhere from a few
washes to a few months.Paul Nathan

This year's competition is on April 5th. It will draw a whole new
crowd of dogs and groomers looking to make their mark with even
more elaborate designs. Paul Nathan